Electric interrupter for high-frequency currents.



No. 774,181. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904. G. E. JOHNSON.

ELECTRIC INTERRUPTER FOR HIGH FREQUENCY GURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.7, 1903- NO MODEL.

W/TNESSES: w 5W4 INVENTOI? Patented November 8, 1904.

ONITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. JOHNSON, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC INTERRUPTER FOR HIGH-FREQUENCY CURRENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,181, dated November 8, 1904. Application filed December 7, 1903- Serial No. 184,207. (No model.)

To (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Interrupters for High-Frequency Currents; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric interrupters for high-frequency currents.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved electric interrupter for high-tension currents specially adapted to be employed in X-ray apparatus, ozone apparatus, electrotherapeutical practice, and wireless telegraphy, of simple and economical construction, and having high efficiency in preserving the highest possible frequency of electrical interruptions.

My invention consists of a plurality of water-cooled tanks adjustably mounted upon a proper pedestal and provided upon their relatively adjacent faces with cooperative hollow spark-gap points, which are kept cool in use by a continuous circulation of the contents of the tanks.

The principal novel feature of my invention resides in the means for keeping the platinum-tipped spark-gap points cool and in the means for imparting to the gap-points a reliable and efficient adjustment.

The accompanying drawing shows a side elevation of my invention, broken away'in part to show various features of internal construction and having immediately below it and in electrical connection therewith and relatively of reduced size a high-frequency coil and a large spark-gap connected therewith and from which lines are taken off for the X-ray or ozone apparatus, and an exciting primary coil and condenser shown diagrammatically in cooperative relation therewith.

I have shown but three cooling-tanks in the drawing, though any desired number may be similarly employed and arranged.

The central tank 1 of any proper dimensions and preferably cylindrical in contour has a closed. bottom 2 and a removable lid, by means of which it can readily be filled with water for the purpose hereinafter described, and is fixed upon any proper upright standard 4, having asuitable supporting-pedestal 5.

The tank 1, of brass or other suitable metal, has near its bottom and in diametric relation two screw -threaded openings in which are removably mounted by a screw-threaded connection the hollow spark-gap points 6, having a conical outer end provided with a central opening in which is properly fixed a platinum tip 7, slightly projecting from the said opening at each end thereof, as shown. These spark-gap points are open at their inner end and freely admit a circulation of the water in the tank about the projecting inner end of the platinum tip 7. The conical form of the points 6 serve two functions which are found to be vital in practice, viz: They serve to keep the cylinders sufliciently separated to prevent the formation of an are between them, which is otherwise liable to occur, since the platinum points have a much greater resistance than has the brass of the cylinder; second, the adjacent faces of the points 6 of the adjacent tanks by being conical are as little as possible exposed to the destructive effects of the arc. Experimental tests show that were the exterior faces of the points 6 madein semispherical form, for example, or as plane plates the intense heat of the arc would soon destroy them, because an arc would soon be formed between these points instead of between the platinum tips, which have a much higher resistance to the current which circulates through the tanks and points 6, and the interrupter would cease to operate.

At or near the central portion of the tank 1 are provided two diametric openings in which is fixed a horizontal rod 3, which passes through the tank and has both ends considerably extended beyond the respective sides of the tank for the purpose hereinafter described.

The standard 4: has two oppositely-arranged horizontal sleeves 8, preferably integral, through which passes the horizontal rod 9, which also passes through a central opening in the standard 1. On the opposite ends of the rod 9 are loosely mounted the respective sleeves 10, of hard rubber or other insulating material, having a metal bushing 11 and hardrubber handles 12, which have upon their inner ends a fixed screw 13, which fits a longitudinal central screw-threaded opening in the respective ends of the rod 9, by means of which the sleeves 10 have a longitudinal adjustmenton the rod 9, as follows:

In the inner end of the sleeves 8 and upon the rod 9 are loosely arranged the coil-springs 14, whose outer ends bear loosely against the respective inner ends of the sleeves 10, which are loosely arranged in the outer ends of the sleeves 8. These springs normally force the sleeves 1O outwardly when the screws 13 are Withdrawn.

On the central portion of the sleeves 10 are fixed the metal sleeves 15, which in turn are fixed in central horizontal openings in the short standards 16, on which cooling cylindrical tanks17 and 18, identical in dimensions, construction, and relative arrangement, are fixed. These tanks 17 and 18 are preferably of a smaller size than the tank 1, since they have each but a single spark-gap point 6 to keep cool, and they each have a closed bottom 19 and a removable lid 20. All the tank-lids are preferably of hard rubber or other insulating material. These tanks have coincident diametric openings in their upper portion in which are fixed the respective hard-rubber sleeves 21 and 21, have a metal bushing 33, are adapted to loosely but snugly receive and contain the respective projecting ends of the rod 3, and have a limited longitudinal adj ustment thereon.

The tanks 17 and 18 are of brass, are adapted to contain water, and are each provided upon its inner face with hollow conical sparkgap points 22 and 23, identical in construction and arrangement with the points 6, above described, and are arranged in proper cooperative relation therewith.

The lower ends of the standards 16 are provided with the binding-posts 24 and 25, to the former of which is connected the wire 26 from the high-frequency coil 27, and to the latter is connected the wire 32 from the step-up transformer 28, to which current is supplied from the city mains by the wires 29.

A condenser 30 and a large spark-gap apparatus 31, from which lines are taken off for use in the X-ray or ozone apparatus (not shown) in a Well-understood manner, are connected in the circuit in the usual manner.

The operation and manner of employing my invention thus described is obvious and,

26 and 32 are connected to the binding-posts 24E and 25, respectively, the current passes upward through the standards 16 to the body of the tank 17 and 18, thence to the respective platinum tips 7 thereof, through the con ical points 22 and 23, thence to the respective adjacent platinum tips 7 of the points 6 of the tank 1. As the cooling-tanks are insulated from one another by the sleeves 10, 21, and 21, the current can only circulate through the interrupter by forming an arc between the platinum tips. As the movable tanks 17 and 18 are mounted on the parallel horizontal rods 3 and 9, lateral adjustment thereof will maintain the platinum tips of the spark-gap points in perfect alinement under all conditions of service, which cannot be secured when these points are adjusted by means of a hinged movement. By a rotation of the screws 13 an independent adjustment of each of the cooling-tanks 17 and 18 relative to the tank 1 for the purpose of securing any desired adjustment of the said points can be secured, since the sleeves 10, carrying these tanks, will be forced inward by the screws 13 and are forced outward as these screws are withdrawn by means of the coil springs 14:. As the whole inner faces of the conical spark-gap points and the projecting inner end of the platinum tips are constantly in contact with the cool Water of the tanks, which Will have a gentle but continuous circulation when the interrupter is in use, it is obvious the sparkgap points will at all times be kept from being overheated in use, thereby greatly increasing the reliability and efficiency of my invention.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of operating the same, whatI desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electric interrupter a plurality of water-cooled tanks having upon their adjacent faces hollow conical spark-gap points provided with arc-forming platinum tips in cooperative relation, and means for adjusting the tanks to bring the said points into operative relation.

'2. In an electric interrupter a plurality of water-cooled tanks having conical spark-gap points whose inner face is in contact with the water in the tank, and which are provided with arc-forming tips; means for securing the said points in cooperative arrangement; and means for so adjusting the tanks as to bring the said tips into operative relation.

3. In an electric interrupter a water-tank having one or more conical spark-gap points against whose inner face a circulation of the 4:. In an electric interrupter a conical sparkgap point having an arc-forming tip; means briefly stated, is as follows: W hen the wires 1 for maintainingacirculation of water against the inner face of the said point to prevent overheating; and means for securing a lateral adjustment of the said point, for the purpose specified.

5. In an electric interrupter a plurality of Water-receptacles having cooperative sparkgap points; and means for so adjusting the receptacles horizontally as to maintain the said points at all times in perfect alinement.

6. in an electric interrupter a plurality of Water-receptacles provided with cooperative spark-gap points; means for maintaining the said receptacles in absolute alinement under all conditions of use consisting of parallel rods or bars on Which the receptacles are slid- I 5 ably mounted; and means for adjusting said spark-gap-points-carrying receptacles.

Signed by me, at Fort Wayne, Allen county, State of Indiana, this 7th day of March, A. D.

GEORGE E. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

AUGUSTA VIBERG, LULU E. BULHAHN. 

